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AN   EXPOSITION 


JHE  Psalm  Miserere  Mei  ]}m, 


FRA  GIROLAMO  SAVONAROLA. 


Written  during  the  imprisonment  whicb  preceded  his  martyr- 
dom, in  the  year  of  Our  Lord,  1498. 


TBANSLATED  FROI^  THE  LATIN  BY 


The  rev.  F.  C.  COWPER,  B.  D. 


'*flie  me  ticut  unum  de  infantilis  et  lactmtibus  iui$:  ut  semper  pen- 
deam  ab  uberibus  sapienliss  tu«,** 


MILWAUKEE,  WIS.: 

THB  YOUNO  CnURCHMAN  CO., 


lOAN  STACK 


Copyright,  1887, 
By  Rev.  F.  C.  COWPER. 


PRKKACE. 


By  the  Translator. 


In  recent  yeaxs,  the  reading  public  has  taken  a  decided 
interest  in  the  history  of  Florence,  and  in  those  worthies 
who,  individually,  did  their  part  in  making  a  name  and  a 
glory  for  that  deservedly  famous  city. 

ITie  general  interest  is,  however,  mostly  centered  in  the 
group  of  men  who  lived  in  Florence  at  about  the  end  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  an  epoch  marked  by  the  revival  of  letters, 
which  Lorenzo,  the  Magnificent,  did  so  much  to  foster 
and  encourage. 

For  myself,  I  freely  confess,  that  among  the  men  who 
lived,  suffered,  and  died  in  that  stirring  period,  not  one 
has  attracted  my  own  heart  and  mind  with  such  a  con- 
straint,  as  the  famous  monk  and  reformer,  Fra  Girolamo 
Savonarola,  who  entered  into  an  unequal  contest  with  a 
wicked  Pope,  and  who  perished  in  the  cause  of  pure 
religion. 

Grimm,  in  his  **Life  of  Michael  Angelo,**  George 
Eliot,  in  "Romola,"  Mrs,  Oliphant,  in  "Makers  of  Floi^ 
ence,"  and  the  Century  Magazine,  issue  of  August,  1880, 
gave  to  the  world  faithful  sketches  of  the  great  and  good 
priest  of  Florence.    It  is  no  part  of  my  present  purpose  to 

882 


PREFACE. 

add  anything  to  the  story  of  his  life,  nor  to  repeat  what  has 
been  said  by  others. 

I  long  desired  to  obtain  a  copy  of  Savonarola's 
"Triumph  of  the  Cross."  In  my  quest  I  was  happy  enough 
to  secure,  through  the  indefatigable  efforts  of  a  brother, 
who  chanced  to  be  in  London,  a  very  ancient  copy  of 
Savanarola's  Latin  works  in  one  volunle.  This  book 
bears  several  dates,  the  earliest  1511,  a.  d.;  the  last,  1523, 
A.  D.  It  was  issued  from  a  Parisian  press.  This  edition, 
I  fancy,  is  unknown  to  history,  since  the  only  mention  I  can 
discover  of  any  addition  of  Savonarola's  works  is  re- 
ferred to  the  first  half  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

Moreover,  no  translation  of  our  author's  works,  nor  of 
a»y  part  of  them,  has  ever  been  made  into  English.  Conse- 
quently, I  am  persuaded,  that  to  publish  any  literary  work 
of  considerable  merit,  from  the  pen  of  the  Florentine  monk, 
will  be  not  inopportune  at  this  time — nay,  that  many 
admirers  of  his  will  hail  the  same  with  pleasure. 

To  such,  therefore,  and  to  those  who  love  the  perusal  of 
pages  which  express  the  deeper  yearnings  of  the  devout 
religious  soul,  I  send  forth  this  little  volume  as  a  kind  of 
first  fruits  of  the  larger  task  which  I  have  set  before  me, 
the  translation  and  publication  of  the  ' '  Trium2)hus  Crucis. ' ' 

Fred.  C.  Cowper. 


AN  EXPOSITIONJIPSALLLL, 

WRITTEN  DURING  HIS  IMPRISONMENT,  BY  THE  REVEREND 

FATHER,   BROTHER  HIEROME  SAVONAROLA,  OF 

FERRARA,  OF  THE  ORDER  OF  PREACHERS. 


Woe  is  Die,  who  am  destitute  of  all  aid  !  Who 
have  offended_both_heaYeji  emil-earth  !  Whither 
sfiall  I  go  ?  Whither  shall  I  turn  ?  To  whcm 
shall  I  flee  for  refuge?  Who  will  take  pity  en 
me? 

To  heaven  I  dare  not  lift  mine  eyes,  for  I 
have  grievously  sinned  against  it.  On  earth  I 
cannot  find  a  refuge,  for  I  have  been  a  by-word 
unto  it. 

What  then  shall  I  do  ?  Shall  I  yield  to  de- 
spair ?  Away  with  the  thought !  God  is  men  i- 
ful.  Righteous  is  my  Saviour.  Therefore  God 
alone  is  my  refuge. 

'  He  will  not  despise  the  work  of  His  own  hand. 
He  will  not  cast  from  Him  the  image  of  Himself. 
To  Thee,  therefore,  most  righteous  God,  discon- 
solate and  full  of  woe,  I  come,  since  Thou  alone 


6  SAVONAROLA. 

art  my  hope,  Th^u_jlone  _art  my ,  ref u  But 
how  shall  I  open  my  mouth  before  Thee,  when  I 
dare  not  lift  up  mine  eyes  ?  Shall  I  pour  forth 
words  of  lamentation  ?  I  will  implore  Thy  mercy. 
T  will  say  : — 


I. 

*'  Have  mercy  upon  me,  0  God,  according  to  Thy 
great  mercy/' 

0  God!  Who  dwellest  in  the  inaccessible 
light !  0  God !  Who  hidest  Thyself,  Who  canst 
not  be  seen  with  the  carnal  eye,  nor  compre- 
hended by  the  mind  of  the  creature,  nor  described 
in  the  language  of  men  (or  of  angels);  0,  my 
God!  Thee,  the^  incomprehensible^. I  seek ;  Thee, 
the  unspeakable,  I  invoke,  whatever  Thou  art, 
Who  art  in  every  place. 

1  know,  indeed,  that  Thou  art  the  Supreme 
Being.  If,  then.  Thou  art  Being  Itself,  and  not 
exclusively  the  cause  of  all  being,  and  yet  withal 
the  Cause — somewhere  I  shall  find  the  Name  by 
which  I  seek  to  address  Thy  unspeakable  Majesty. 

Thou  art  God,  say  I,  Who  art  whatsoever  is 
in  Thee.  For  Thou  art  Thy  wisdom  itself.  Thine 
Excellency,  Thy  Power,  Thy  Supreme  Felicity. 

Since,  then.  Thou  art  merciful,  what  art 
Thou  but  Mercy  itself?  And  what  am  I  but 
Misery  itself  ? 

Behold,  therefore,  0  Mercy,  0  God !  behold 
Misery  standing  before  Thy  face.     What  wilt 


8  SAVOl^AROLA. 

Thou  do,  0  Mercy  ?  Surely  Thou  wilt  perform 
Thy  work.  It  is  not  possible,  is  it,  for  Thee  to 
act  against  Thy  attributes  ? 

And  what  is  Thy  work  ?  To  do  away  with 
misery,  to  lift  up  men  sunken  in  wretchedness. 
Then  have  mercy  upon  me,  0  God  !  0  God  !  nay, 
0  Mercy  !  take  aw^ay  my  wretchedness,  take 
away  my  sins,  which  are  now  my  sum  of  wretch- 
edness. Lift  me  up  who  am  in  misery.  Show 
forth  in  me  Thy  work.  Exercise  upon  me  Thy 
virtue. 

Deep  calleth  unto  deep.  The  deep  of  misery 
calleth  unto  the  deep  of  mercy.  The  deep  of 
transgressions  calleth  unto  the  deep  of  grace. 
Greater  is  the  deep  of  mercy  than  the  deep  of 
misery.  Therefore  let  deep  swallow  deep.  Let 
the  deep  of  mercy  swallow  up  the  deep  of  misery. 

Have  mercy  upon  me,  0  God,  according  to 
Thy  great  mercy,  not  according  to  man's  mercy, 
which  is  small ;  but  according  to  Thine,  which  is 
great,  which  is  immeasurable,  which  is  incom- 
prehensible, which  exceedeth  the  measure  of  all 
transgressions ;  according  to  that  Thy  great 
mercy,  by  which  Thou  so  lovedst  the  world,  that 
Thou  gavest  Thine  only-begotten  Son. 

What  greater  mercy  can  there  be  ?  What 
greater  love  ?  Who  can  yield  to  despair  ?  Who 


MISERERE.  9 

can  refuse  to  have  confidence  ?  God  was  made 
Man  ;  and  for  men  was  crucified.  Have  mercy 
upon  me,  therefore,  0  God,  according  to  this 
Thy  mercy.  By  which  Thy  Son  gave  Himself 
for  us.  By  which,  through  the  same,  Thou  hast 
taken  away  the  sins  of  the  world.  By  which, 
through  His  cross.  Thou  hast  illumined  all  men. 
By  which,  through  the  Same,  Thou  hast  renewed 
the  things  which  are  in  heaven,  and  the  things 
which  are  in  earth.  Wash  me,  0  Lord,  in  His 
blood.  Enlighten  me  in  His  humility.  Renew 
me  by  His  resurrection. 

Have  mercy  upon  me,  0  God.  Not  according 
to  a  small  measure  of  Thy  mercy.  For  this  is 
the  small  measure  of  Thy  mercy,  when  Thou 
deliverest  men  from  their  bodily  woes. 

But  thy  mercy  is  great  when  Thou  dost  take 
away  their  ^ins,  and  when,  through  Thy  grace, 
Thou  liftest  men  above  the  heights  of  earth. 
Therefore,  0  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  me  accord- 
ing to  this  Thy  great  mercy,  and  turn  me  unto 
Thee,  that  Thou  mayest  make  an  end  of  my  sins, 
that  Thou  mayest  justify  me  through  Thy  grace. 


II. 

'^  And  according  to  the   multitude  of   Thy  com- 
passions do  away  mine  iniquity/' 

Thy  mercj;  0  Lord,  is  the  fulness  of  Thy 
holiness,  by  which  Thou  regardest  the  wretched 
righteously.  For  Thy  compassions  are  the  works 
and  the  outgoings  of  Thy  mercy. 

There  came  Mary  Magdalene  to  Thy  feet, 
0  blessed  Jesus  !  She  washed  them  with  her  tears ; 
she  wiped  them  with  her  hairs  ;  and  Thou  didst 
pardon  her  and  send  her  forth  in  peace.  Here 
was  one  of  Thy  compassions,  Lord. 

Peter  denied,  and  with  an  oath  blasphemed 
Thee.  Thou  lookedst  back  upon  him.  He  wept 
bitterly,  and  Thou  f orgavest  him,  and  didst  con- 
firm him  chief  of  the  Apostles.  This  again  is 
Thy  compassion.  Lord. 

The  thief  upon  the  cross  was  redeemed  with 
but  a  single  word.  Paul,  in  the  heat  of  persecu- 
tion, being  called,  was  straightway  filled  with  the 
Holy  Ghost.  These  are  Thy  compassions.  Lord. 
The  time  would  fail  me  did  I  desire  to  give 
account  of  all  thy  compassions. 


MISERERE.  11 

Wherein,  verily,  was  their  righteousness,  the 
objects  of  so  many  compassions  ? 

No  man  may  glory  in  himself.  Let  all  the 
just  appear,  whether  in  heaven  or  upon  the  earth, 
and  we  will  question  them  before  Thy  presence. 
Was  it  by  their  own  virtue  that  they  were  saved  ? 
Surely,  every  one  of  them,  with  one  heart,  with 
one  mouth  must  give  reply — ''Not  unto  us,  0 
Lord,  not  unto  us ;  but  unto  Thy  name  give  the 
praise  ;  for  Thy  mercy  and  Thy  truth's  sake." 

For  not  through  their  own  sword  have  they 
possessed  the  earth ;  and'  it  was  not  their  own 
arm  which  saved  them  :  but  Thy  right  hand,  and 
Thy  arm  ;  and  the  light  of  Thy  countenance ;  be- 
cause Thou  hadst  a  favour  unto  them.  Whence, 
not  by  their  own  merits ;  not  by. works  were  tbey 
saved,  lest  any  man  should  boast ;  but  because  so 
it  seemed  good  in  Thy  sight.  As  also  the 
prophet  spake,  when  he  wrote  concerning  him- 
self, saying :  He  hath  saved  me,  because  He  had  a 
desire  unto  me. 

Since,  then.  Thou  art  the  same  God,  in  Whom 
is  no  variableness,  neither  shadow  of  turning ; 
and  we  are  Thy  creatures,  as  our  fathers  were, 
who,  through  concupiscence  were  born  in  sin,  as 
also  we  ourselves  ;  and  there  is  one  Mediator  be- 
tween God  and  men,  Christ  Jesus,  Who  abideth 


12  SAVONAROLA. 

forever ;  why  pourest  Thou  not  forth  Thy  com- 
passions upon  us,  in  like  manner  as  Thou  didst 
pour  them  forth  upon  our  fathers  ? 

Hast  Thou  forgotten  us  ?  Are  we  alone  trans- 
gressors ?  Was  not  Christ  put  to  death  for  us  ? 
Does  Thy  mercy  no  more  superabound  ? 

0  Lord,  our  God,  I  pray  Thee,  I  beseech  Thee, 
do  away  mine  iniquity  according  to  the  multitude 
of  Thy  compassions.  For  Thy  mercies  are  many 
and  infinite.  One  of  them  is  sufficient  for  me, 
manifestly,  that  Thou  mayest  destroy  mine 
iniquity  according  to  the  multitude  of  Thy  com- 
passions :  that,  as  Thou  hast  drawn  to  Thyself, 
lifted  up,  and  justified  countless  sinners.  Thou 
mayest  deign  to  draw  to  Thyself,  lift  up,  justify 
me  through  Thy  grace. 

Therefore,  according  to  the  multitude  of  Thy 
compassions,  do  away  mine  iniquity ;  break  my 
heart  in  pieces,  that,  all  its  sin  and  all  its  un- 
cleanness  cast  out,  it  may  become  like  a  scoured 
tablet,  upon  which  the  finger  of  God  may  write 
the  law  of  His  love,  in  the  presence  of  which  no 
iniquity  may  find  a  dwelling  place. 


III. 

^^  Wash  me  throughly  from   my  iniquity:    and 
cleanse  me  from  my  sins/' 

I  confess,  0  Lord,  that  once  Thou  hast  put 
away  mine  iniquity.  A  second  time  hast  Thou 
put  it  away.  Thou  hast  washed  me  a  thousand 
times. 

Wash  me  again  from  mine  iniquity,  because 
again  have  1  fallen.  Shalt  Thou  place  on  erring 
man  a  definite  number  to  his  sins  ?  Thou  Who, 
to  Peter's  question — How  oft  shall  my  brother 
sin  against  me  and  I  forgive  him  ?  till  seven 
times  ? — repliedst,  I  say  not  unto  thee  till  seven 
times,  but  unto  seventy  times  seven,  using  a 
limited  number  to  denote  an  unlimited.  Shalt 
Thou,  then,  be  surpassed  in  forgiveness  by  a  man  ? 
Is  not  God  greater  than  a  man  ?  Is  He  not  better 
than  a  man  ?  Rather,  is  not  God  the  Mighty 
Lord,  and  the  Upholder  of  the  universe  ? 

Every  man  living  is  feeble.  God  alone  is 
good.     But  every  man  is  deceitful.  

Hast  Thou  not  said,  Whensoever  a  sinner 
shall  repent,  I  will  remember  the  sum  of  his 
iniquities  no  more  ? 


14  SAVONAROLA. 

Behold  !  I  am  a  sinner.  1  repent  in  anguish. 
For  my  wounds  are  corrupt  by  reason  of  my  fool- 
ishness. I  am  troubled.  I  am  bowed  down  even 
to  extremity.  All  the  day  long  I  go  mourning 
unto  Thee.  I  am  afflicted  and  I  am  humbled  ; 
yea,  I  have  roared  through  the  anguish  of  my 
heart. 

0  Lord,  all  my  longing  is  before  Thee,  and 
my  groaning  is  not  hid  from  Thee.  My  heart  is 
disquieted  within  me  ;  my  strength  hath  left  me, 
and  the  very  light  of  mine  eyes  is  gone  from  me. 

Why,  therefore,  0  Lord,  dost  Thou  not  do 
away  mine  iniquity  ?  And  if  Thou  hast  already 
put  it  away,  according  to  the  multitude  of  Thy 
compassions  wash  me  thoroughly  from  my  sin  ;  for 
hitherto  I  have  been  cleansed  imperfectly.  Com- 
plete Thy  work.  Take  away  the  whole  body  of 
sin.  Take  away  the  guilt.  Increase  the  light. 
Inflame  my  heart  with  Thy  love.  Drive  ajyay 
fear  ;  for  perfect  love  casteth  out  fear.  Let  the 
love  of  the  world,  the  love  of  the  fleshy  the  love 
of  glory,  and  self-love,  wholly  depart  from  me. 

Thoroughly  (and  more  and  more),  shalt  Thou 
wash  me  from  mine  iniquity  wherein  I  have 
sinned  against  my  neighbor  ;  and  from  my  sin 
wherewith  I  have  offended  against  God. 

Wash  me,  that  Thou  mayest  take  away,  not 


MISERERE.  15 

the  crime  and  the  guilt  alone,  but  likewise  the 
fuel  of  sins. 

Thou  shalt  wash  me,  verily,  with  the  water  of 
Thy  manifold  grace  ;  with  the  water  whereof 
whosoever  shall  drink,  shall  never  thirst ;  but  it 
shall  be  in  him  a  well  of  water  springing  up  into 
everlasting  life. 

Wash  me  with  the  water  of  my  tears. 

Wash  me  with  the  water  of  Thy  Scriptures, 
that  I  may  be  worthy  to  be  numbered  among 
those  to  whom  Thou  hast  already  said,  Ye  are 
clean  according  to  My  word. 


IV. 

^^  For  I  acknowledge  my  iniquity^  and  my  sin  is 
ever  before  me/' 

Truly,  with  whatever  intention  of  Thy  mercy 
and  Thy  compassions,  0  Lord,  I  confidently  flee 
to  Thee  for  refuge.  Yet  I  come  not  as  the  Phari- 
see, who,  holy  in  his  own  eyes,  made  his  prayer  ; 
nay,  rather  made  boast  of  himself,  and  despised 
his  neighbor  ;  but  as  the  publican,  who  dared  not 
so  much  as  lift  his  eyes  to  heaven,  for  I  acknowl- 
edge my  iniquity. 

For  when  I  think  upon  my  sins,  I  dare  not  lift 
my  eyes  on  high.  But,  with  the  publican,  in 
humility,  I  say,  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner. 
For  my  soul  swayeth  betwixt  hope  and  fear. 
And  at  one  moment,  through  dread  of  the  sins 
which  I  acknowledge  to  be  within  me,  I  despair. 
At  another  I  am  sustained  with  the  hope  of  Thy 
mercy. 

Verily,  because  Thy  mercy  is  greater  than  my 
misery,  my  hope  shall  ever  be  in  Thee,  0  Lord  ; 
and  I  will  sing  of  Thy  compassions  for  ever  and 
ever. 

For  I  know  that  Thou  desirest  not  the  death 


MISERERE.  17 

of  a  sinner ;  but  that  he  should  be  converted  ; 
but  that  he  should  acknowledge  his  iniquity ;  but 
that  he  should  discard  his  sin,  and  come  to  Thee, 
and  live. 

0  my  God  !  grant  unto  me  that  I  may  live  for 
Thee.  For  I  acknowledge  my  iniquity.  I  know 
how  deep  it  is,  how  multiform,  and  how  per- 
nicious. I  do  not  ignore  it.  I  do  not  conceal  it. 
But  I  set  it  fast  before  my  eyes,  that  I  may  wash 
it  with  tears ;  that  I  may  confess  to  the  Lord  my 
wrong-doing,  to  my  own  dispraise.  For  my  sin 
(wherein  I  have  dealt  haughtily  against  Thee),  is 
ever  before  me. 

Before  me,  on  this  account,  because  I  have 
sinned  against  Thee.  Verily  before  me ;  because 
I  have  sinned  against  my  own  soul ;  because  it 
ever  accuseth  me  before  the  Judge  ;  because  it 
condemneth  me  on  every  side ;  and  so  much  the 
more  before  me,  that  it  may  always  stand  in  my 
presence  opposing .  itself  to  me,  lest  my  prayer 
should  pass  over  unto  Thee  ;  that  it  may  take 
away  from  me  Thy  mercy  ;  to  hinder  it  that  it 
should  not  be  able  to  cross  over  unto  me.  There- 
fore I  tremble ;  therefore  I  groan  ;  therefore  I 
beseech  Tby  mercy. 

As  then,  0  Lord,  Thou  has  granted  unto  me 
to  acknowledge  my  transgression,  and  to  be  sorry 


18  SAVONAROLA. 

for  my  sin,  so  also  make  perfect  my  contrition, 
make  complete  my  confession,  draw  to  an  end 
my  penance.  For  every  good  gift,  and  every  per- 
fect gift  is  from  above,  and  cometh  down  from 
Thee,  the  Father  of  lights. 


^^  Against  Thee  only  have  I  sinned,  and  done 
evil  in  Thy  sight:  that  Thou  mightest  he  justi- 
fied in  Thy  sayings,  and  vanquish  when  Thou 
art  judged/^ 

Against  Thee  only  have  I  sinned  greatly; 
because  Thou  taughtest  me  to  love  Thee  for 
Thine  own  sake;  to  resign  the  love  of  created 
things  to  Thee.  But  I  have  loved  the  creature 
more  than  Thee ;  loving  it  for  its  own  sake. 

But  what  is  it  to  sin,  except  to  cling  to  the 
creature  in  love  for  iis  own  sake  ?  And  what  is 
this  but  to  proceed  against  Thee  ?  Surely,  he  who 
loveth  the  creature  for  its  own  sake,  maketh  the 
creature  his  god.  I  therefore  have  sinned  against 
Thee  only,  because  I  have  set  up  the  creature  as 
my  god.  I  have  consequently  cast  Thee  away, 
and  done  despite  against  Thee  only.  For  I  have 
not  sinned  against  any  one  creature,  if  I  have  set 
my  aim  upon  a  created  thing  ;  because  it  was  not 
taught  me  that  I  should  love  any  one  creature  for 
its  own  sake.  For  if  Thou  hadst  commanded  me 
to  love  alone  an  angel  for  himself ;  and  I  should 
have  set  my  heart  upon  money,  without  doubt  I 


20  SAYON^AROLA. 

had  sinned  against  the  angel.  But  since  Thou 
alone  art  to  be  loved  for  Thyself,  and  the  crea- 
ture is  to  be  loved  in  Thee  and  for  Thee  ;  verily, 
against  Thee  only  have  I  sinned,  since  I  have 
loved  the  creature  for  itself. 

But,  what  is  worse,  I  have  done  evil  in  Thy 
sight.  For  I  have  not  blushed  to  sin  before  Thy 
face. 

0  God  !  how  many  sins  have  I  committed  in 
Thy  sight,  which  I  would  in  no  wise  have  perpe- 
trated in  the  sight  of  men  !  nay,  which  I  could  by 
no  means  have  desired  that  men  should  know ! 

1  have  stood  in  aw^e  of  men,  rather  than  of 
Thee ;  because  I  was  blind,  and  loved  my  blind- 
ness. Yea,  rather,  I  neither  saw  Thee,  nor  gave 
heed.  I  had  only  carnal  eyes.  Therefore  men 
alone,  w^ho  are  flesh,  did  I  perceive,  and  them  I 
feared.  But  Thou  observedst  all  my  sins,  and 
kept  account  of  them.  I  shall  not  therefore  be 
able  to  hide  them  from  Thee,  nor  evade  them,  nor 
flee  from  Thy  presence. 

Whither  shall  I  go  from  Thy  spirit  ?  and 
whither  shall  I  flee  from  Thy  presence  ?  What 
then  shall  I  do  ?  Whither  shall  1  turn  ? 

Whom  shall  I  And  as  the  defender  whom  I 
long  for  ?  unless  it  be  Thon,  0  my  God  ? 

Who  so  good  ?  W^ho  so  tender  ?  Who  so  mer- 


MISERERE.  21 

ciful  as  Thou,  that  in  tenderness  surpassest  all 
creatures  beyond  comprehension  ?  For  it  is  Thy 
attribute  to  pity  and  to  spare ;  Who  showest 
forth  Thy  omnipotence  chiefly  in  sparing  and 
pitying. 

I  confess,  0  Lord,  that  against  Thee  only  have 
I  sinned  and  done  evil  in  Thy  sight. 

Have  mercy  upon  me,  and  show  forth  Thy 
omnipotence  upon  me  that  Thou  may  est  be  justi- 
fied in  Thy  sayings.  For  Thou  saidst,  I  came  not 
to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners  to  repentance. 

Be  Thou  justified  in  Thy  sayings,  0  Lord. 
Call  me.  Support  me.  Grant  unto  me  to  bring 
forth  fruit  meet  for  repentance.  For  this  cause 
wast  Thou  crucified.  For  this  Thou  didst  die, 
and  wast  buried. 

Thou  saidst  also,  when  I  shall  have  been 
lifted  up  from  the  earth,  I  will  draw  all  things 
unto  Myself. 

Be  Thou  justified  in  Thy  sayings.  Draw  me 
after  Thee.  We  will  run  in  the  fragrance  of 
Thy  ointments. 

Again  Thou  saidst,  Come  unto  Mo,  all  ye  who 
labor,  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  refresh  you. 

Behold  !  I  come  to  Thee  heavy  laden  with 
sins,  laboring  day  and  night  in  the  anguish  of 
my  heart. 


22  SAVOKAROLA 

Refresh  me,  0  Lord,  that  Thou  may  est  be 
justified  in  Thy  sayings,  and,  that  Thou  mayest 
vanquish  when  Thou  art  judged. 

For  there  be  many  that  say.  There  is  no  help 
for  him  in  his  God ;  God  hath  forsaken  him. 
Vanquish  these  men,  0  Lord,  since  Thou  art 
judg-ed  by  them.  Forsake  me  not  utterl}^  Grant 
unto  me  mercy  and  help,  and  they  are  vanquished. 

For  they  say  both  that  Thou  wilt  not  have 
mercy  on  me,  and  that  Thou  wilt  cast  me  away 
from  Thy  presence  ;  because  Thou  wilt-  support 
me  no  more. 

Thus  art  Thou  judged  by  men. 

Thus  do  men  speak  concerning  Thee. 

These  are  their  judgments.  But  Thou  art 
tender,  and  Thou  art  merciful.  Have  mercy  up- 
on me,  and  vanquish  their  judgments.  Show 
forth  in  me  Thy  niercy.  Let  Thy  tenderness  be 
magnified  in  me.  Make  me  one  of  the  .vessels  of 
Thy  mercy.  That  Thou  mayest  be  justified  in 
Thy  sayings,  and  vanquish  when  Thou  art  judged. 

For  men  judge  of  Thee  as  stern  and  harsh. 
Vanquish  their  judgment  by  Thy  tenderness  and 
loving  kindness,  that  men  may  learn  to  be  merci- 
ful to  sinners,  and  that  offenders  may  be  roused 
to  penitence,  when  they  behold  in  me  Thy  ten- 
derness and  lovinsr  kindness. 


VI. 

^^  For  I  was   begotten  in  iniquities  ;  and  in  sins 
hath  my  mother  conceived  me/' 

Regard  not,  0  Lord,  the  gravity  of  my  sins, 
neither  consider  their  multitude  ;  but  take  knowl- 
edge of  Thy  framework. 

Remember  that  I  am  but  dust,  and  that  all 
flesh  is  grass. 

For  behold,  I  was  begotten  in  iniquities,  and 
in  sins  hath  my  mother  conceived  me. 

My  mother,  the  carnal,  I  say,  hath  conceived 
me  through  concupiscence,  and  therein  have  I 
contracted  original  sin.  Furthermore  what  is 
ori^nal  sin,  except  the  deprivation  of  the  origi- 
nal righteousness  and  rectitude  of  the  whole 
man  ? 

Thus  it  is  a  man  is  conceived  and  boni  in 
human  sin.  The  whole  man  is  wrong.  The 
whole  man  is  crooked.  The  flesh  lusteth  against 
the  spirit.  The  reason  is  weak.  The  will  is 
feeble.    * 

Man  is  frail  and  like  unto  vanity.  His  senses 
deceive  him.  His  irangiuation  beguileth  him. 
His  ignorance  leadeth  him  astray.     He  encounter- 


24  SAVONAROLA. 

eth  infinite  obstacles,  which  draw  him  back 
from  the  good,  and  drive  him  towards  the  evil. 

Therefore  is  original  sin  the  root  of  all  sins. 
It  is  the  touchwood  of  all  iniquities.  For,  in 
whatsoever  man  you  please,  owing  to  his  very 
nature,  there  may  be  just  one  sin ;  yet,  through 
its  own  strength,  it  becometh  all  sins  combined. 

Thou  seest  then,  0  Lord,  what  I  am,  and 
whence  I  am.  For  I  was  begotten  in  original 
sin,  which  contains  all  iniquities,  and  all  trans- 
gressions ;  and  in  it  hath  my  mother  conceived 
me.  I  was  altogether  born  in  sins.  And,  com- 
passed about  with  toils  on  every  side,  whither 
can  I  escape  ? 

For  I  do  not  the  good  that  I  would ;  but  the 
evil  which  I  would  not,  that  I  do;  for  I  find 
another  law  in  my  mtaibers,  warring  against  the 
law  of  my  mind,  and  bringing  me  into  captivity 
to  the  law  of  sin  and  death. 

Therefore,  by  so  much  the  more  let  Thy 
tenderness  lift  me  up,  the  more  frail  and  com- 
passed about  with  toils  it  seeth  me. 

For  who  doth  not  pity  the  feeble  ?  Who 
doth  not  feel  for  the  weak  ? 

Come !  0  come !  Thou  Good  Samaritan,  and 
lift  me  up,  who  am  woun4ed  and  half  dead ;  heal 
my  wounds,  and  pour  in  oil  and  wine ;   set  me 


8AV0NAB0LA.  25 

upon  Thine  own  beast ;  bring  me  to  an  inn ; 
commend  me  to  the  host ;  hand  him  two  denarii,- 
and  say  unto  him — Whatsoever  thou  spendest 
more,  when  I  come  again,  I  will  repay  thee. 


VII. 

*'For,  behold,  thou  hast  loved  truth;  and  hast 
shewn  unto  me  the  undetermined  and  hidden 
things  of  thy  wisdom/^ 

Come !  0  Sweetest  Samaritan !  For,  behold, 
Thou  hast  loved  truth.  The  truth,  I  say,  of  the 
promises  which  Thou  hast  made  to  the  human  race. 

These  hast  Thou  loved  exceedingly;  because 
Thou  madest  them,  and  hast  kept  them.  For  it 
is  Thy  very  attribute  to  love ;  to  do  good  within 
Thine  own  self ;  for  Thou  art  immutable. 

Nor  thus  only  dost  Thou  love  us.  Thou  dost 
not  love  only  that  the  deeds  of  Thy  love  may 
pass  and  repass.  But  Thou  art  the  absolute  love, 
which  never  changeth. 

For  God  is  love.  It  is  Thine,  therefore,  to 
love  the  creature ;  to  do  good  unto  it.  And  Thou 
doest  most  for  those  whom  Thou  lovest  most. 

What,  therefore,  is  it  for  Thee  to  love  the 
truth,  except  to  do  and  to  keep  the  truth  ? 

Thou  promisedst  unto  Abraham  a  son,  when 
he  was  already  old,  and  Sara,  barren  and  stricken 
in  years.  Thou  didst  keep  the  promise — because 
Thou  lovedst  the  truth. 


MISERERE.  27 

Thou  didst  pledge  to  the  children  of  Israel  a 
land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey :  and  at  length 
Thou  gavest  it,  because  Thou  lovedst  the  truth. 

Thou  didst  promise  unto  David,  saying,  Of  the 
fruit  of  thy  body  will  I  set  upon  Thy  throne.  It 
was  fulfilled,  because  Thou  lovedst  the  truth. 

Countless  have  been  Thy  promises,  in  which 
Thou  hast  always  been  faithful.  Wherefore  hast 
Thou  always  been  faithful  ?  Because  Thou 
lovedst  the  truth. 

Unto  sinners  fleeing  to  Thee  for  refuge,  Thou 
hast  promised  pardon  and  grace ;  and  Thou  hast 
never  defrauded  any  one,  because  Thou  lovedst 
the  truth. 

That  Prodigal  Son,  who  departed  into  a  far 
country,  and  wasted  all  his  substance  in  riotous 
living,  on  returning  to  himself,  came  to  Thee, 
saying.  Father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven  and 
before  Thee ;  I  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called 
Thy  son ;  make  me  as  one  of  Thy  hired  servants. 
When  as  yet  he  was  a  great  way  off.  Thou  dis- 
cernedst  him  with  the  eyes  of  Thy  tenderness; 
Thou  didst  run  to  meet  him  ;  Thou  didst  fall  upon 
his  neck  and  kiss  him  ;  Thou  broughtest  forth  the 
best  robe;  Thou  didst  put  a  ring  on  his  finger, 
and  shoes  on  his  feet ;  and  killedst  the  fatted 
calf ;  Thou  causedst  the  whole  household  to  make 


28  SAVOKAROLA. 

merry,  saying,  Let  us  make  merry  and  feast ;  for 
this  My  son  was  dead,  and  is  alive  again :  he  was 
lost,  and  is  found. 

Wherefore  didst  Thou  these  things,  0  Lord 
God  ?  Without  doubt  because  Thou  lovedst  the 
truth. 

Love  therefore.  Father  of  mercies,  this  truth 
in  me,  who  am  returning  to  Thee  from  a  far 
country.  Run  to  meet  me,  and  give  to  me  the 
kiss  of  Thy  lips;  bestow  the  best  adornments; 
lead  me  into  Thy  house  ;  and  kill  the  fatted  calf ^ 
that  all  who  hope  in  Thee  may  rejoice  in  me  ;  and 
we  will  feast  together  at  the  espousal  banquet. 

Not,  0  Lord,  for  me  alone  wilt  thou  preserve 
this  truth.  If  Thou,  Lord,  wilt  be  extreme  to 
mark  what  is  done  amiss,  0  Lord,  who  shall  abide 
it? 

Verily,  Thou  wilt  not  be  extreme  to  mark 
iniquities  ;  because  Thou  lovedst  the  truth.  Yea^ 
Thou  hast  loved  it  with  an  unmeasurable  love. 
For  who  is  the  truth  which  Thou  hast  loved,  but 
Thy  Son— Who  said,  I  am  the  Way,  the  Truth, 
and  the  Life  ?  For  He  Himself  is  the  Truth,  of 
Whom  every  truth  in  heaven  and  in  earth  is  named. 

This  therefore  hast  Thou  loved ;  and  in  this 
alone  wast  Thou  well  pleased ;  because  this  alone 


MISERERE.  29 

Thou  didst  find  without  spot,  and  didst  will  that  it 
should  die  for  sinners. 

Preserve  therefore,  0  God,  this  truth. 

Behold,  I  am  a  great  sinner,  in  whom  Thou 
mayest  preserve  it ;  to  whom  Thou  mayest  pardon 
many  sins,  which  Thou  canst  wash  away  in  the 
blood  of  Thy  Christ,  which  Thou  canst  purchase 
through  His  passion. 

Why,  0  Lord,  didst  Thou  give  to  me  this  con- 
ception of  Thy  Son  ?  Why  didst  Thou  give  this 
faith  concerning  Him  ? 

Was  it  that  I  might  be  affected  with  the 
greater  pain,  beholding  my  redemption,  and  Thou 
not  touch  it  in  the  least  ? 

God  forbid.  But  it  was  that,  knowing  myself 
to  be  prepared,  I  might  come  and  lay  hold  of  that 
grace  through  Christ. 

Redeem  me  then,  0  Lord,  for  Thou  hast 
shewn  unto  me  the  undetermined  and  hidden 
things  of  Thy  wisdom,  that  this  very  knowledge 
might  aid  me,  and  lead  me  unto  salvation.  These 
things,  of  a  truth,  the  philosophers  understood 
not.  These  things  were  to  them  undetermined. 
These  things  were  wholly  hidden  unto  them. 
None  among  men,  except  a  few  whom  Thou 
didst  love,  had  knowledge  of  these  things,  prior  to 
the  Incarnation  of  Thy  Son. 


30  SAVONAROLA. 

The  most  inquisitive  searchers  of  the  heart ; 
the  wisest  men,  I  say,  of  this  era,  lifted  up  their 
eyes  across  the  age,  and  were  unable  to  find  out 
this  Thy  wisdom;  because  Thou  hast  hid  these 
things  from  the  wise  and  prudent,  and  hast 
revealed  them  unto  babes,  even  unto  humble 
fishermen,  and  unto  Thy  holy  prophets,  who  have 
handed  them  down  to  us. 

If,  therefore.  Thou  hast  shewn  unto  me  the 
undetermined  and  hidden  things  of  Thy  wisdom 
and  of  Thy  Scripture,  why  do  I  know  them  in 
vain  ?  For  surely  it  is  in  vain  that  I  know  them 
if  they  do  not  lead  me  unto  salvation.  ''  Because 
that,  when  in  this  wise  they  had  known  God  ; 
they  did  not  glorify  Him  as  God,  neither  were 
thankful,  but  became  vain  in  their  imaginations. 
For  professing  themselves  to  be  wise,  they  became 
fools." 

Wilt  Thou  suffer  me  to  be  in  the  number  of 
these  ?  God  forbid.  For  Thou  art  the  same 
Mercy  which  never  f aileth  the  penitent. 

Spare  then,  0  Lord,  spare  Thy  servant,  and 
confirm  him  in  the  number  of  Thy  children  ;  that 
the  undetermined  and  hidden  things  of  Thy 
wisdom,  which  Thou  hast  shewn  unto  him,  may 
lead  him  to  the  fountain  of  wisdom,  which  is  in 
the  highest ;  that  Thou  may  est  be  praised  in  Thy 


MISERERE.  31 

work  of  mercy  which  Thou  shalt  perform  upon 
Thy  slave,  0  Lord,  Who  never  failest  him  that 
hopeth  in  Thee. 


VIII. 

**Thou  shall  sprinkle  me,  0  Lord,  tvith  hyssop^  and 
I  shall  be  clean  :      Thou  shalt  wash  me,  and  I 
•  shall  be  whiter  than  snow^ 

Because,  0  Lord,  Thou  hast  loved  truth,  and 
hast  shewn  unto  me  the  undetermined  and  hidden 
things  of  Thy  wisdom,  I  have  conceived  a  great 
hope ;  and  I  have  faith  that  Thou  wilt  not  cast 
me  away  from  Thy  presence. 

Sprinkle  me  with  hyssop,  and  I  shall  be  clean. 

Hyssop  is  an  herb,  humble,  pungent,  and 
aromatic. 

What  else  does  it  symbolize  except  Thy  Son, 
our  Lord,  Jesus  Christ  ? 

Who  humbled  Himself  even  unto  death,  and 
that  the  death  of  the  cross. 

Who,  in  the  glory  of  His  unmeasured  love 
hath  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His 
own  blood. 

Who,  by  the  fragrance  of  His  goodness,  and 
meekness,  and  righteousness,  hath  filled  the  whole 
earth  with  a  sweet  savour. 

This,  then,  is  the  Hyssop  wherewith  Thou 
shalt  sprinkle  me — when  Thou  shalt  pour  forth 


MISERERE.  33 

upon  me  the  efficacy  of  His  blood ;  when  Christ 
shall  dwell  in  me  by  faith ;  when,  through  love, 
I  shall  be  united  to  Him ;  when  I  shall  imitate 
the  humility  of  His  estate. 

Then  I  shall  be  cleansed  from  all  my 
impurities. 

Then  Thou  shalt  wash  me  in  my  tears,  shed 
through  love  of  Christ. 

Then  I  shall  travail  in  my  groan;  I  shall 
wash  my  couch  every  night,  and  water  my  bed 
with  my  tears. 

Then,  too.  Thou  shalt  wash  me^  and  I  shall  be 
whiter  than  snow.  For  snow  is  dazzling  white 
and  cold. 

Therefore,  if  Thou  shalt  perfectly  have  sprink- 
led me  with  Hyssop,  I  shall  be  whiter  than  snow. 
For  I  shall  be  y)ermeated  with  Thy  supreme 
brightness,  which  surpasseth  all  corporeal  splendor. 
And,  through  it,  being  enkindled  with  the  love 
of  heavenly  blessings,  I  shall  resign  all  the  dear 
objects  of  the  flesh  ;  having  become  cold  toward 
things  terrestial,  and  set  aglow  toward  things 
celestial. 


IX. 

''  Thou  shall  cause  me  to  hear  of  joy  and  gladness; 
and  the  bones  which  have  been  humbled  shall 
rejoice/' 

For  then,  0  Lord,  will  I  make  my  prayer  unto 
thee  ;  and  early  in  the  morning,  yea,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  Thy  day,  Thou  shalt  hear  my  voice. 

And  I  will  hear  what  the  Lord  God  will  speak 
concerning  me,  when  He  shall  speak  peace  unto 
His  people. 

And  Thou  shalt  give  peace  unto  me,  0  Lord  : 
peace  shalt  Thou  give  unto  me,  because  I  have 
trusted  in  Thee. 

Thou  shalt  cause  me  to  hear  of  joy  and  glad- 
ness, when  I  hear  what  Mary  heard. 

And  what  did  Mary  hear  ? 

Of  her  I  speak  who  wept  at  Thy  feet.  What, 
then,  did  she  hear  ?  Thy  faith  hath  saved  thee  ; 
go  in  peace. 

And  I  shall  hear  what  the  robber  heard.  This 
day  thou  shalt  be  with  Me  in  Paradise.  There- 
fore I  shall  have  joy  for  the  remission  of  sins ; 
gladness  for  the  promise  of  blessings. 

And  sha|l  I  not  rejoice,  and  shall  I  not  be  glad , 


MISERERE.  35 

when  Thou  hast  granted  pardon  for  all  my  sins  ? 

Then  shall  I  begin  to  taste  of  joy,  since  Thou 
art  good,  0  Lord. 

Then  shall  I  learn  to  dwell  in  heavenly  places. 

Then  shall  I  say  with  the  prophet.  How 
plentiful  is  Thy  goodness,  which  Thou  hast  hid 
away  for  them  that  fear  Thee  ! 

Then  shall  I  rejoice  and  be  glad ;  and  the 
bones  which  have  been  humbled  shall  rejoice. 

What  are  the  bones  which  uphold  the  flesh,  i\ 
except  the  forces  of  the  rational  soul  which  sup-  V 
port  the  weak  fabric  of  my  body,  lest  it  should  | 
flow  into  all  imperfections,  lest  the  entire  man 
should  become  flesh,  and  be  wholly  dissolved  ? 

Therefore  these  bones  have  been  humbled, 
because  the  reason  has  been  greatly  enfeebled,  and 
the  will  vehemently  prone  to  evil. 

No  longer  does  the  flesh  obey  the  reason,  but 
the  reason  the  flesh.  I  am  unable  to  resist  vice, 
because  my  bones  have  been  humbled. 

And  wherefore  were  they  humbled  ?  Because 
they  have  forsaken  Thee,  the  fountain  of  living 
waters,  and  hewed  them  out  of  broken  cisterns, 
that  can  hold  no  water,  because  they  are  not  re- 
plenished with  Thy  grace,  without  which  no  man 
can  live  uprightly.  For  without  Thee  we  can  do 
nothing. 


36  SAVONAROLA. 

They  trusted  in  their  own  virtue,  which  was 
not  virtue.  Therefore  they  failed,  through  their 
own  foolishness. 

Therefore  let  Thy  virtue,  0  Lord,  draw  near, 
and  the  bones  which  have  been  humbled  shall 
rejoice. 

Let  Thy  grace  draw  near. 

Let  faith,  which  worketh  through  love,  draw 
near. 

Let  Thy  virtues  and  Thy  blessings  draw  near, 
and  the  bones  which  have  been  humbled  shall 
rejoice. 

The  reason  ^so^shall  rejoice. 

The  memory  shall  be  glad. 

The  will  shall  have  joy. 

They  shall  rejoice  exceedingly,  because  they 
shall  leap  out  of  themselves. 

While  they  shall  give  themselves  unto  good 
works,  they  shall  be  stirred  by  a  great  virtue 
within  them.  Neither  shall  they  fail.  But,  with 
Thy  aid,  they  shall  continue  even  unto  the  end. 


X. 

'^  Turn  Thy  face  from  my  sins^  and  blot  out  all 
mine  iniquities/' 

Why,  0  Lord,  regardest  Thou  my  sins  ? 

Why  numberest  them  ? 

Why  so  carefully  considerest  them  ? 

Is  there  anything  Thou  knowest  not  ?  Be- 
cause man  is  as  a  flower  of  the  field,  why  regardest 
Thou  not  rather  the  face  of  Thy  Christ  ? 

Woe  is  me !  W^hy  do  I  behold  Thee  incensed 
against  me  ? 

I  confess  that  I  have  sinned.  But  do  Thou,  0 
benignant  One,  have  mercy  upon  me.  Turn  Thy 
face  from  my  sins.     Thy  face  is  Thy  knowledge. 

Turn  therefore  Thy  knowledge  from  my  sins. 

I  speak  not  concerning  the  knowledge  of 
mere  apprehension,  because  Thou  see«t  P^^  fliipp[a 
always  ;  but  concerning  the  knowledge  of  approval 
and  disapproval ;  by  means  of  which  Thou  approv- 
est  the  deeds  of  the  just,  and  condemnest  unto 
reprobation  the  misdeeds  of  the  wicked. 

Do  not  so  take  hnowledge  of  my  sins  as  to 
impute  them  unto  me.     But  turn  Thy  face  from 


38  *  SAVONAROLA. 

my  sins,  that  they  may  be  blotted  out  through 
Thy  mercy. 

Regard,  0  Lord,  the  soul  which  thou  hast  cre- 
ated :  look  upon  Thy  image  which  thou  hast 
formed.    For  thou  madest  it  after  Thy  likeness. 

And  I,  wretched  man  that  I  am,  have  overlaid 
it  with  the  image  of  the  devil,  that  Thou  mayest 
not  be  angry  at  me.  And  look  upon  Thine  own 
image,  that  Thou  mayest  take  pity  on  me. 

0  merciful  Lord,  remember  that  Thou  didst 
lojDk  upon  Zacchaeus,  as  he  climbed  into  the  syca- 
more tree,  and  didst  enter  into  his  house,  which 
Thou  clearly  wouldst  never  have  done  if  Thou 
hadst  beheld  in  him  the  image  of  the  Devil.  But 
because  Thou  sawest  Thine  image  in  him  Thou 
hadst  compassion  on  him,  and  bestowedst  upon  him 
salvation. 

He  promised  to  restore  fourfold  his  ill-gotten 
gains  and  to  spend  the  half  of  his  goods  upon  the 
poor,  and  he  obtained  mercy  and  salvation. 

/  surrender  myself  wholly  unto  Thee.  I 
withhold  nothing  for  myself.  1  promise  always 
to  serve  Thee  with  a  true  heart.  I  will  perform 
my  vows  all  the  days  of  my  life. 

Why,  therefore,  0  Lord,  dost  Thou  not  be- 
hold in  me  also  Thine  image  ?  Why  considerest 
Thou  my  sins  hitherto  ?     Turn,  I  beseech  Thee, 


MISERERE.  39 

Thy  face  from  my  sins — and  Blot  Out  All  Mine 
Iniquities. 

Blot  them  all  out,  I  say,  that  not  one  may 
remain.  For  it  is  written.  Whosoever  shall  keep 
the  whole  law,  and  yet  offend  in  one,  he  is  guilty 
of  all.  Therefore  he  is  condemned  to  Gehenna, 
which  is  the  punishment  of  all  sins  that  lead  unto 
death. 

Blot  out,  then,  all  my  iniquities,  that  not  one 
thing  may  offend  Thee,  which  can  make  me  guilty 
of  all. 


XL 

^^  Create  in  me  a  clM^tJiMart,  0  God,  and  renew  a 
right  spirit  in  my  inward  parts/' 

For  my  heart  hath  forsaken  me.  It  never 
thinketh  upon  me,  being  altogether  forgetful  of 
its  own  safety.  It  wandereth  through  crooked 
paths.  It  has  taken  its  departure  away  from 
home.  It  f olloweth  after  vanities,  and  its  eyes  are 
cast  into  the  extremities  of  the  earth.  I  have 
called  unto  it,  and  it  hath  not  answered  me.  It 
hath  departed.  It  hath  perished.  It  hath  been 
sold  unto  sins. 

What  then,  0  Lord^  what  shall  I  say  ?  Cre- 
ate a  clean  heart  in  me,  0  God.  An  humble  heart. 
A  meek  heart.  A  peaceful  heart.  A  benevolent 
heart.  A  devout  heart.  Which  doeth  evil  to  no 
man.  Which  repayeth  not  evil  for  evil  ;  but,  for 
evil,  good.  Which  loveth  Thee  above  all  things  ; 
thinketh  always  upon  Thee  ;  speaketh  concerning 
Thee  ;  giveth  Thee  thanks  ;  taketh  delight  in 
hymns  and  spiritual  songs  ;  hath  its  conversation 
in  Heaven. 

Create  such  a  heart  in  me,  0  God.  Evolve  it 
out  of  nothing  ;  that,  such  as  it  cannot  be  by  na- 


MISERERE.  41 

ture,  such  it  may  become  through  grace.  For  this 
Cometh  into  the  soul  from  Thee  alone,  by  creation. 
This  is  the  form  of  a  clean  heart,  bringing  with 
it  all  virtues,  at  the  same  time  it  driveth  out  all 
vices.  Therefore  create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  0 
God,  through  Thy  grace. 

And  renew  a  right  spirit  in  my  inward  parts. 
For  Thy  Spirit  shall  lead  me  into  the  right  way  ; 
because  it  will  pur^e  me  from  worldly  affections, 
and  shall  uplift  me  toward  the  heavenly.  For 
the  loving  and  the  beloved  are  one.  Who,  there- 
fore, loveth  carnal  things  is  carnal.  But  whoso 
loveth  the  Spirit  is  spirit. 

Grant  unto  me  a  spirit  loving  Thee,  and  wor- 
shipping Thee,  the  Supreme  Spirit.  For  God  is  a 
Spirit ;  and  they  who  worship  Him  must  worship 
Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 

Give  a  right  spirit,  not  one  which  seeketh  its 
own  things,  but  the  things  which  are  Thine.  Re- 
new a  right  spirit  in  my  inward  parts.  Renew  it, 
because  the  first  which  Thou  gavest  to  me,  mj 
sins  have  destroyed.  Give  a  fresh  spirit  which  re- 
neweth,  which  becometh  established. 

For  my  soul  is  spirit ;  and  by  Thee  was  so 
created,  that  in  itself  it  was  just.  For  by  its  own 
nature  it  loveth  Thee  more  than  itself,  and  for 
Thy  sake  desireth  all  things.    For  natural  love  is 


42  SAVONAROLA. 

just,  in  so  far  as  it  is  from  Thee.  But  through  its 
depraved  will  it  hath  become  established  in  sins, 
and  maketh  natural  love  to  pine  away. 

Renew,  therefore,  this  spirit,  and  this  love, 
through  Thy  grace,  that  it  may  pref>:s  on  justly,  in 
accordance  with  its  nature. 

Renew  it  in  my  inward  parts,  that  it  may  so 
make  fast  its  roots  in  Thine^  that  it  never  more 
can  be  plucked  out. 

Renew  it,  I  say,  in  my  inward  parts,  that  it 
may  always  inflame  me  with  divine  love  ;  may  al- 
ways make  me  to  pant  after  Thee  ;  to  hold  Thee 
fast  and  never  to  forsake  Thee. 


XII. 

'^  Cast  me  not  away  from  Thy  presence,  and  take 
not  Thy  Holy  Spirit  from  mef 

Behold,  Lord,  I  stand'  before  Thy  face,  that  I 
may  obtain  Thy  mercy. 

I  stand  in  the  presence  of  Thy  goodness  and 
beneficence.  I  look  for  a  gracious  answer — that 
Thou  wilt  not  cast  me  away  from  Thy  presence  in 
confusion. 

Who  ever.  Lord,  came  to  Thee  and  departed 
in  confusion  ?  Who  desired  to  see  Thy  face  and 
went  away  empty  ?  Surely,  Thou  surpassest,  in 
the  abundance  of  Thy  tenderness,  both  the  deserts 
and  the  vows  of  suppliants  ;  and  art  wont  to  give 
more  than  men  either  desire  or  comprehend. 

Never  hath  it  been  heard  that  Thou  didst 
drive  away  from  Thy  presence  in  confusion,  any 
one  who  came  to  Thee. 

Am Jjjiord,  to  be  the  first  cast  away  from 
Thy  presence  ?  Or  dost  thou  wish,  from  me,  to 
make  a  beginning  of  confounding  those  whocorae 
to  Thee  ?  Dost  Thou  wish  no  more  to  pity  and 
to  spare  ?     Far  be  it. 

The  Canaanitish  woman  followed  after  Thee. 


44  SAVONAROLA. 

She  made  a  clamor.  She  filled  the  air  with  her 
cries.  Thy  disciples  were  moved  to  compassion. 
And  Thou  heldest  Thy  peace.  In  agitation,  she 
persevered.  She  worshipped  Thee,  saying — Lord, 
help  me.  But  Thou,  not  even  so,  returnedst 
answer.  Thy  disciples  besought  Thee  for  her, 
saying.  Send  her  away,  for  she  crieth  after  us. 

What,  I  pray,  0  Lord,  didst  Thou  reply  to 
them  ?  Yea,  to  her,  who  vainly  wept,  who  la- 
boured ineffectually  ?  Verily,  Thou  saidst;  I  am 
not  sent  but  unto  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of 
Israel. 

When  she  heard  this,  what  ought  the  Canaan- 
itish  woman  to  have  done  ?  Surely,  to  have  des- 
paired of  the  favor  she  desired.  Not  even  now 
did  she  despair  ;  but,  trusting  in  Thy  mercy,  again 
and  again  she  besought  Thee,  saying,  Lord,  help 
me.  To  whom  unceasingly  persisting.  Thou, 
Lord,  repliedst,  It  is  not  good  to  take  the  child- 
ren's bread  and  to  cast  it  to  dogs.  As  if  Thou 
hadst  plainly  said.  Depart  from  me.  Ye  Canaan- 
ites  are  dogs  ;  ye  are  unclean  ;  ye  are  idolaters. 
The  gifts  of  celestial  grace  belong  not  to  you.  It 
is  not  meet  to  take  these  from  the  Jews,  who  wor- 
ship the  true  God,  and  to  give  them  to  you — dogs, 
worshippers  of  demons. 

What  now  wilt  Thou  do,  0  woman  of  Ca- 


MISERERE.  45 

naan  ?  Blush  now,  and  depart.  For  the  Lord  is 
angry — not  with  thee  alone,  but  with  the  whole 
of  thy  people. 

Who,  0  Lord  God,  pierced  through  with  these 
Thy  words,  had  not  gone  away  ?  Who  had  not 
deeply  murmured  ?  Who  had  not  adjudged  Thee 
cruel  ? 

And  yet  this  woman  persevered  in  prayer. 
She  lost  not  hope.  Hard  words  she  took  not  ill. 
She  was  not  angered,  but  greatly  humbled.  And 
persevering  in  her  petition,  she  said,  with  confi- 
dence. Yea,  Lord,  Thou  speakest  truth.  But  I  seek 
not  the  bread,  I  demand  not  the  privileges  of  the 
children^  for  1  am  a  dog.  I  seek  the  crumbs  which 
fall  from  the  table  of  Thy  children.  They  abound 
in  miracles  and  graces.  But  to  me  let  not  this 
smallest  favour  be  denied — that  my  daughter  be 
delivered  from  a  devil ;  for  even  the  dogs  eat  of 
the  crumbs  which  fall  from  their  masters'  table. 

Behold  !  how  great  faith  !  how  great  trust ! 
how  great  humility  !  Thou,  by  no  means  angry 
at  her  importunity,  but  rejoicing  in  her  virtue, 
saidst,  0  woman,  great  is  thy  faith  ;  be  it  unto 
thee  even  as  thou  wilt. 

Why  were  these  things  written,  0  Lord  God  ? 
That  we  may  learn  to  hopejfl.  Thee.  That  we 
may  persevere  in  prayer,  devoutly  and  humbly. 


46  SAVOl^AROLA. 

For  Thou  wiliest  to  give.  But  the  kingdom  of 
Heaven  suffereth  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it 
by  storm.  Whatsoever  things  were  written  afore 
time  were  written  for  our  learning,  that  through 
patience  and  comfort  of  the  Scriptures  we  might 
have  hope. 

Cast  me  not  away,  therefore,  from  Thy  pres- 
ence, Lord,  Who  day  and  night  stand  weeping  and 
wailing  before  Thy  face — not  to  have  Thee  deliver 
me  from  bodily  violence  at  the  hands  of  devils  ; 
but  to  have  Thee  rescue  my  soul  from  his  spiritual 
power. 

Confound  me  not,  good  Jesus  !  because  I  hope 
in  Thee  alone. 

There  is  no  salvation  for  me,  except  in  Thee, 

0  Lord.  ForalljneB-- have  forsaken  me.  Even 
my  brethren  and  my  sons  have  cast  me  off,  my  in- 
ward parts  abhor  me.  I  have  none  to  hear  me 
any  more  but  Thee.  Therefore  cast  me  not  away 
from  Thy  presence  and  take  not  Thy  Holy  Spirit 
from  me. 

No  man  can  say  Lord  Jesus  but  by  the  Holy 
Spirit.     Therefore,  if  1  invoke  Thee,  Lord  Jesus, 

1  do  this  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  If  I  grieve  for  sins 
committed  ;  if  I  seek  for  pardon,  this  assuredly  I 
do  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  Yea,  I  pray  Thee,  take 
not  Thy  Holy  SpiritJrom  me,  that  He  may  abide 


MISERERE.  47 

with  me,  and  labor  with  me.  For  we  know  not 
how  to  pray  as  we  ought.  But  the  Spirit  helpeth 
our  infirmity  and  intercedeth  for  us,  yea,  causeth 
us  to  make  our  petition  with  groanings  unutter- 
able. 

Therefore,  take  not  Thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me, 
that  He  may  teach  me  how  to  pray  ;  and  may  aid 
me  in  my  travail,  and  may  make  me  to  persevere 
in  prayers  and  tears,  that  at  length  I  may  find 
favour  in  Thy  sight,  and  serve  Thee  all  the  days  of 
my  life. 


XIII. 

^^Bestore  unto  me  the  joy  of  Thy  salvation  ;  and 
establish  me  ivith  Thy  free  Spirit/^ 

I  ask  a  great  favour,  0  Lord.  For  Thou  art 
God  the  mighty  Lord,  and  the  great  King  above 
all  gods.  He  doeth  Thee  wrong  who  asketh  a 
small  thing  of  Thee. 

[  All  things  are  small  which  are  transitory.  AU 
carnal  things  are  small.  The  spiritual  are  great 
and  precious.  Take  away  the  spirit,  take  away  the 
soul  from  the  body,  what  remaineth  but  excre- 
ment ?  what  but  dust  and  a  shadow  ?  Therefore 
there  is  as  wide  a  difference  between  the  spirit  and 
the  body  as  between  the  body  and  its  shadow. 
Who,  therefore,  asketh  of  Thee  carnal  things 
asketh  small  things.  But  whoso  demandeth  spir- 
itual things,  verily  demandeth  great  things.  But 
he  who  asketh  the  joy  of  Thy  salvation  asketh  the 
greatest  of  all. 

For  what  is  Thy  salvation  but  Jesus,  Thy  Son  ? 
This  is  the  true  God  and  eternal  life. 

Why,  then,  may  I  not  ask  of  Thee,  0  infinite 
and  most  bountiful  Father,  this  salvation  which 
Thou   didst  yield  up  for   me  upon   the   cross  ? 


MISEREBE.  49 

Thou  didst  offer  Him  to  me.  Wherefore  should  I 
blush  to  ask  Him  ? 

He  is  the  greatest  and  infinite  Gift,  and  I  am 
not  worthy  of  a  Gift  so  great.  Nevertheless  it  be- 
cometh  Thee  to  give  such  great  things.  Hence, 
by  reason  of  this  ineffable  tenderness,  I  dare  to 
approach  Thee  trustingly  and  to  ask  the  joy  of 
Thy  salvation. 

For  if  any  son  should  ask  a  fish  from  the 
father  of  his  flesh,  will  he  offer  him  a  serpent  ? 
And  if  he  should  ask  an  egg^  would  he  give  him  a 
scorpion  ?  And  if  he  should  ask  bread,  will  he 
give  him  a  stone  ? 

If,  therefore,  earthly  fathers,  being  evil  and 
sinners,  know  how  to  give  to  their  children  the 
good  things  which  have  been  bestowed  on  them 
by  Thee,  how  much  more  wilt  Thou,  0  heavenly 
Father,  Who  art  good  in  Thy  very  essence,  give 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  Thee. 

Behold  !  Thy  son  returned  from  a  far  coun- 
try, grieving  and  repentant,  asketh  of  Thee  a  fish 
of  faith  ;  (for,  just  as  a  fish  lurketh  beneath  the 
waters,  so  is  faith  concerning  those  things  which 
are  not  seen.)  He  asketh,  I  say,  a  true  faith, 
that  he  may  rejoice  in  Thy  salvation.  Wilt  Thou 
offer  unto  him  a  serpent  ?     Wilt  Thou  giye  to  him 


50  SAYONAROLA. 

the  poisons  of  unbelief  which  proceed  from  the 
tortuous  and  old  serpent,  the  Devil  ? 

I  ask  of  Thee,  0  Lord,  an  egg  of  hope.  That 
just  as  a  chicken  is  hoped  for  from  the  egg,  so 
Thou  majest  grant  unto  me  to  come  out  of  hope 
unto  the  actual  vision  of  Thy  salvation  ;  that  out 
of  hope  itself  the  vision  may  come  forth,  like  as 
the  chicken  from  the  egg. 

I  ask  an  egg  of  hope,  that  my  soul  may  be  sus- 
tained by  very  hope  in  this  vale  of  tears,  and  may 
rejoice  in  Thy  salvation. 

Wilt  Thou  give  to  me  a  scorpion  of  despair, 
that  just  as  a  scorpion  hath  poison  in  the  end  of 
his  tail,  so  also  I  may  reserve  sin  in  the  extremity 
of  my  life  ?  and  may  flatter  myself  in  the  allure- 
ments of  the  world,  just  as  a  scorpion  outwardly 
seemeth  to  flatter  ? 

I  ask  also  of  Thee  the  bread  of  Christ's  char- 
ity, by  which  He  communicateth  Himself  to  all 
as  bread,  that  I  may  always  rejoice  in  Thy  salva- 
tion. Wilt  Thou  give  me  a  stone,  which  is 
hardness  of  heart  ?     God  forbid. 

Why  therefore  shall  I  hesitate  to  ask  and 
to  demand  great  things  of  Thee,  0  Lord,  Who 
reassurest  me  and  invitest  me  to  the  asking  and 
the  knocking,  even  to  importunity  ?  But  what 
can  I  ask,  more  pleasing  to  Thee  and  more  whole- 


MISERERE.  51 

some  for  me,  than  that  Thou  shpuldest  restQre  to 
me  the  joy  of  Thy  salvation  ? 

"Tliave  already  tasted  how  good  the  Lord  is, 
how  easy  and  how  light  is  His  burden. 

T  recall  how  great  peace,  how  great  tranquillity 
of  soul  I  did  enjoy,  when  I  rejoiced  in  the  Lord, 
and  exulted  in  God  my  Jesus.  Yea,  now  I  grieve 
the  more,  because  I  know  what  I  have  lost.  I 
know  what  very  great  benefits  I  have  lost.  Yea, 
I  clamor  import unately^-Restore  to  me  the  joy'of 
Thy  salvation:  restore  what  Thou  hast  taken 
away  from  me  on  account  of  my  sins :  restore 
what  I  have  lost  through  my  own  fault :  restore, 
I  beseech  Thee,  through  His  merits.  Who  ever 
standeth  at  Thy  right  hand  and  maketh  interces- 
sion for  us.  That  through  Him  I  may  feel  that 
Thou  art  reconciled  to  me ;  that  the  seal  is 
set  upon  my  heart ;  that  I  may  say  with  the 
Apostle — 1  am  nailed  to  the  Cross  with  Christ: 
nevertheless  I  live ;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth 
in  me. 

Verily,  because  my  frailty  is  great,  establish 
me  with  Thy  free  Spirit  that  I  may,  through  no 
disquietudes,  be  capable  of  separation  from  Christ; 
through  no  terrors,  of  departing  from  Thee; 
through  no  tortures,  of  becoming  weak.      For 


52  SAVONAROLA. 

my  strength  is  not  such  that  it  can  do  battle  with 
the  old  serpent  and  prevail  against  him. 

Peter  hath  instructed  me  how  great  is  our 
infirmity.  He  beheld  Thee,  Lord  Jesus !  He 
conversed  with  Thee  on  most  familiar  terms.  He 
was  partaker  of  Thy  glory  in  the  Mount,  when 
Thou  wast  transfigured.  He  heard  the  voice  of 
the  Father.  He  saw  with  his  own  eyes  Thy 
wonderful  works.  He  himself,  in  like  manner, 
through  Thy  power,  performed  many  miracles. 
He  walked  over  the  waters  on  his  feet.  He  heard 
daily  Thy  words,  so  great  in  power,  so  great  in 
gentleness.  He  appeared  most  fervent  of  faith. 
And  he  declared  that  he  was  ready  to  go  with 
Thee  both  to  prison  and  to  death.  And  when 
Thou  foretoldest  to  him  his  denial,  he  did  not 
believe  Thee.  He  trusted  in  his  own  strength. 
He  directed  his  faith  more  toward  himself,  a 
man,  than  toward  Thee,  God. 

But  when  a  maiden  said  to  him — Thou  art 
one  of  them — immediately,  being  terrified,  he 
denied  it.  Another  maiden  came,  and  said — 
Surely  thou  art  one  of  them.  A  second  time  he 
denied  it.  He  could  not  stand  before  a  mere 
woman.  How  could  he  have  stood  before  kings 
and  tyrants  ? 

And  when  again  he  was  questioned  and  ac- 


MISERERE.  53 

cused  by  them  that  stood  by,  he  began  to  swear, 
and  to  call  to  witness  that  he  knew  Thee 
not.  What  thinkest  Thou  he  said  ?  I  believe  he 
sware  by  God,  and  by  the  Law  of  Moses,  that  he 
knew  Thee  not ;  and  that  he  uttered  an  impreca- 
tion, saying — Think  ye  that  I  am  a  disciple  of 
this  Samaritan,  seducer,  and  demoniac.  Who  hath 
destroyed  our  Law  ?  I  am  a  disciple  of  Moses. 
As  for  this  Fellow,  I  know  not  whence  He  is. 

Thanks  be  to  God  that  the  questioning  ceased. 
For  if  the  questioning  had  not  ceased,  neither 
would  the  denying  have  ceased.  For  a  thousand 
questions  there  had  been  a  thousand  denials  ;  and, 
as  a  consequence,  a  thousand  perjuries  and  im- 
precations. 

Moreover,  these  questions  were  but  words. 
How  had  it  been  if  the  Jews  had  resorted  to 
scourges  ?  Verily,  Peter  would  have  left  noth- 
ing undone,  by  means  of  which,  through  denials, 
and  purjuries,  imprecations  and  Jjbisphemies,  he 
might  extricate  himself  from  their  hands.  But 
Thou,  tender  Lord,  didst  look  back  upon  him, 
and  straightway  he  knew  his  sin.  But  not  yet 
did  he  dare  to  spring  forth  in  the  midst,  and  con- 
fess Thee  to  be  the  Son  of  God ;  because  not  yet 
was  he  established  with  power  from  on  high. 
For  I  am  far  from  doubting  that  he  would  again 


54  SAYONABOLA. 

have  made  denial,  if  he  had  seen  the  scourges 
made  ready  for  him.  Indeed,  on  maturer  thought, 
he  went  forth  and  wept  bitterly.  And  Thou, 
verily,  after  Thy  resurrection,  appearedst  unto 
him  and  re-assuredst  him. 

Nevertheless  he  remained  hidd,eii  jor^feg^r  of 
the  Jews.  He  saw  Thee  so  gloriously  ascending 
into  heaven.  And  he  was  comforted  by  a  vision 
of  angels.  And  yet  he  dared  not  even  now  to  appear 
in  public.  Experience,  in  fact  had  taught  him 
his  frailty,  and  proved  his  w^eakness.  He  earnestly 
awaited  the  promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  came 
and  replenished  his  bosom  with  grace.  Then  he 
issued  forth.  Then  he  began  to  speak.  Then  he 
bore  the  testimony  of  Thy  resurrection  with  great 
power.  Then  he  feared  not  chief  priests  and 
kings,  but  gloried  in  tribulations,  and  embraced 
the  cross  as  the  sum  of  delights. 

Therefore,  0  Lord,  establish  me  in  Thy  free 
Spirit,  that  I  may  continue  fast  in  the  joy  of  Thy 
salvation.  Otherwise  I  am  unable  to  persevere 
against  so  many  warfares.  The  flesh  lusteth 
against  the  spirit.  The  world  presseth  me  on 
every  side.  The  devil  sleepeth  not.  Give  to  me 
the  power  of  Thy  Spirit,  that  a  thousand  may 
fall   beside  me,  and   ten   thousand  at  my  right 


MISERERE.  55 

hand,  that  I  may  be  a  faithful  and  strong  witness 
of  thy  faith. 

For  if  Peter,  whom  Thou  endowedst  with  so 
many  gifts  and  graces,  fell  so  miserably,  what 
could  I  do,  0  Lord,  who  have  never  beheld  Thee 
in  the  flesh,  nor  have  partaken  of  Thy  glory  in 
the  Mount,  nor  have  been  eye-witness  of  Thy 
miracles  ?  Nay  rather,  I  have  with  difficulty 
comprehended  Thy  wonderful  works  from  afar  : 
and  I  have  never  heard  Thy  voice,  but  have 
always  abode  in  sins.  Therefore  establish  me 
with  thy  free  Spirit,  that  I  may  be  able  to  perse- 
vere in  Thy  obedience,  and  to  give  my  life  for 
Thee. 


XIV. 

''J  will  teach  Thy  ways  unto  the  wicked  ;  and  sin- 
ners shall  he  converted  unto  Thee." 

Ascribe  not  this  to  rashness,  0  Lord,  if  I 
desire  to  teach  Thy  ways  unto  the  wicked.  For, 
not  as  iniquitous,  infamous,  and  in  bonds,  do  I 
desire  to  teach  the  wicked.  But  if  Thou  shouldest 
restore  to  me  the  joy  of  Thy  salvation ;  if  Thou 
shouldest  establish  me  with  Thy  free  Spirit ;  if 
Thou  shouldest  deliver  me  from  my  woes,  then  I 
shall  teach  Thy  ways  unto  the  wicked. 

For  this  is  not  difficult  to  Thee  ;  because,  from 
the  stones  Thou  art  able  to  raise  up  children  unto 
Abraham.  Nor  are  sins  able  to  obstruct  Thee,  if 
Thou  desirest  to  do  this.  Yea,  rather,  where  sin 
abounded,  grace  also  superabounded. 

Paul,  breathing  out  threatenings  and  slaughter 
against  the  disciples  of  the  Lord,  received  autho- 
rity that  if  he  found  any,  whether  they  were  men 
or  women,  following  after  Thee,  and  confessing 
Thy  faith,  he  should  bring  them  bound  unto 
Jerusalem.  He  went,  therefore,  borne  by  rage,  as 
it  were  a  ravening  wolf,  to  scatter,  seize  and  slay 
Thy  sheep.     While,  therefore,  he  was  on  the  way  ; 


MISERERE.  57 

in  the  madness  of  persecution ;  in  the  act  of  sin  ; 
while  he  was  pursuing  Thee  ;  while  he  sought  to 
kill  Thy  sheep  ;  while  there  was  in  him  no  prep- 
aration for  grace  and  no  conscience  of  sins  ;  when 
with  all  his  power  he  was  opposing  Thee,  blas- 
pheming Thee,  and  cursing  Thee,  behold  the  voice 
of  Thy  tenderness  above  him,  saying,  Saul,  Saul, 
why  persecutest  thou  Me  ?  By  which  Voice  he 
was  instantly  prostrated  and  attent,  prostrated  in 
body,  attent  in  mind.  Thou  didst  arouse  the 
slumberer.  Into  the  eyes  weighed  down  with 
sleep  Thou  didst  infuse  Thy  light ;  Thou  didst 
shew  Thy  face  ;  Thou  didst  pour  out  Thy  ineffable 
mercy.  The  dead  arose.  He  opened  his  eyes.  He 
beheld  Thee  and  said,  Lord,  what  wouldst  Thou 
have  me  to  do  ? 

Thou  sen  test  the  wolf  to  a  lamb.  Thou  sentest 
Him  to  Ananias.  He  was  baptized.  And  imme- 
diately, being  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  be- 
came a  chosen  vessel  to  bear  Thy  name  before 
Kings,  and  the  Gentiles,  and  the  children  of 
Israel.  Straightway,  therefore,  entering  the  syna- 
gogues, he  boldly  preached  Thee,  declaring  that 
Thou  art  the  Christ.  He  disputed  with,  he  pre- 
vailed against,  he  confounded  the  Jews. 

Behold,  Lord,  how  forthwith  out  of  a  perse- 
cutor Thou  madest  him  a  preacher ;  and  such  and 


58  SAYOTSTAKOLA. 

SO  great  a  one  that  he  labored  more  than  the  other 
Apostles.  0  wonderful  power  of  Thine  !  If 
Thou  wiliest  to  make  a  just  man  out  of  a  sinner, 
a  preacher  out  of  a  persecutor,  who  shall  prevent 
Thee  ?  who  shall  resist  Thee  ?  who  shall  be  able 
to  say,  why  doest  Thou  so  ?  All  things  whatso- 
ever pleased  Thee,  hast  Thou  done  in  Heaven  and 
in  earth  ;  in  the  sea  and  in  all  deeps. 

Then  impute  it  not  to  arrogance  if,  not  in  mine 
own,  but  in  Thy  power,  I  desire  to  teach  Thy 
ways  unto  the  wicked.  For  I  know  that  I  can 
present  nothing  unto  Thee  which  may  please  the 
eyes  of  Thy  Holiness  more.  This  sacrifice  is  the 
greatest  of  all.  I  can  also  do  nothing  more  bene- 
ficial to  myself. 

If  therefore  Thou  wilt  transform  me  into  a 
new  man,  I  will  teach  Thy  ways  unto  the  wicked. 
Not  the  ways  ofPlato  ;  not  of  Aristotle  ;  not  the 
perplexities  of  the  logicians  ;  not  the  dogmas  of 
the  philosophers  ;  not  the  swelling  words  of  the 
rhetoricians  ;  not  the  business  of  the  world  ;  not 
the  ways  of  vanity  ;  not  the  ways  which  lead  unto 
death.  But  Thy  ways,  and  Thy  precepts,  which 
lead  unto  life.  Not  one  of  Thy  ways  only  ;  but 
many  ways,  because  Thy  precepts  are  many. 
Nevertheless  all  these  ways  terminate  in  one. 
For  all  are  united  in  one  through  charity,  which, 


MISERERE.  59 

verily,  uniteth  the  souls  of  the  faithful,  that 
there  may  be  in  them  one  heart  and  one  mind  in 
the  Lord. 

As,  forsooth,  there  are  divers  ways,  so  there 
are  divers  lives.  For  by  one  the  clergy  walk ;  by 
another  the  monks ;  by  another  the  mendicants. 
Another  have  those  united  in  marriage.  Another 
those  living  and  restraining  themselves  in  widow- 
hood. Another  the  virgins.  Another  princes 
follow.  Another  the  doctors.  Another  the 
merchants.  Finally,  the  various  estates  of  men 
proceed  through  various  ways  toward  the  celestial 
Fatherland. 

I  will  teach  therefore.  Thy  ways  unto  the 
wicked ;  and  to  each  one  equally  his  own  condi- 
tion and  estate.  And  sinners  shall  be  converted 
unto  TheCj  because  I  shall  preach  to  them  not  my 
own  self,  but  Christ  crucified.  Therefore  they 
shall  be  converted,  not  to  my  praises,  but  to 
Thee.  For  they  shall  abandon  their  own  ways, 
that,  entering  into  Thine,  they  may  walk  in  them, 
and  attain  unto  Thee. 


XV. 

^^  Deliver  me  from  blood  guiltiness,  0  God,  Thou 
God  of  my  salvation  :  and  my  tongu  eshall  sing 
of  Thy  righteousness/^ 

In  a  sea  of  bloodguiltiness  I  choke  ;  and  out  of 
its  depth  I  call  unto  Thee,  0  Lord ;  Lord  hear  my 
voice.  Delay  not,  0  Lord,  for  I  am  nigh  unto 
death  ;  that  is,  my  blood  and  my  sins  are.  For, 
j  us t  as  in  the  blood  is  the  life  of  tb  e  flesh  ;  so  in  sin  is 
the  life  of  the  sinner.  Pour  out  the  blood,  the 
animal  dieth.  Pour  out  sin,  through  confession, 
he  dieth  unto  sin,  and  is  made  just. 

I,  therefore,  am  not  only  involved  in  blood ; 
but,  being  steeped  in  bloodguiltiness,  the  whirl- 
pools of  blood  drag  me  beneath.  Succour  me,  0 
Lord,  lest  I  perish. 

Deliver  me  from  bloodguiltiness,  0  God,  Who 
governest  and  promotest  all  things ;  Who  alone 
canst  deliver  me ;  in  Whose  hand  is  every  breath 
of  life. 

Deliver  me  from  bloodguiltiness,  0  God,  the 
Author  of  my  salvation  :  0  God  in  Whom  alone 
is  my  health. 


MISERERE.  61 

Deliver  me,  0  Lord,  as  Thou  deliveredst  Noah 
from  the  waters  of  the  flood. 

Deliver  me  as  Thou  deliveredst  Lot  from  the 
burning  of  Sodom. 

Deliver  me  as  Thou  deliveredst  the  children  of 
Israel  from  the  deep  of  the  Red  Sea.  / 

Deliver  me  as  Thou  deliveredst  Jona  out  of 
the  whale's  belly. 

Deliver  me  as  Thou  deliveredst  the  Three 
Children  from  the  burning  fiery  furnace. 

Deliver  me  as  Thou  deliveredst  Peter  from  the 
peril  of  the  sea. 

Deliver  me  as  Thou  deliveredst  Paul  from  the 
abyss  of  the  sea. 

Deliver  me  as  Thou  hast  delivered  number- 
less sinners  from  the  hand  of  death,  and  from  the 
gates  of  hell. 

And  my  tongue  shall  sing  of  Thy  righteous- 
ness thenceforth;  especiaHyTTiy  righteousness 
which  I  shall  feel  within  me  through  Thy  grace. 
For  Thy  righteousness,  as  saith  the  Apostle,  is, 
through  the  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  in  all  and  over 
all  who  believe  in  Him.  Therefore  my  tongue 
shall  sing,  in  giving  praise  for  this  Thy  righteous- 
ness, in  extolling  Thy  grace,  in  magnifying  Thy 
loving-kindness,  in  confessing  my  sins.  That  in 
me  Thy  mercy  may  be  praised,  which  condescended 


62  SAVOl!fAROLA. 

to  justify  so  great  a  sinner.  That  all  men 
may  know  Thou  savest  them  that  hope  "in  Thee, 
and  deliverest  them  from  the  clutch  of  '  anguish, 
0  Lord,  our  God. 


XVI. 

^^ 0  Lord,   Thou  wilt    open  my  lips;    and  my 
mouth  shall  shew  forth  Thy  praise/' 

A  great  thing  is  Thy  praise,  0  Lord ;  and  it 
proceedeth  from  the  fountain,  of  which  the  sin- 
ner drinketh  not.  For  praise  is  not  fair  in  the 
mouth  of  a  sinner.  Deliver  me  from  bloodguilti- 
ness,  0  Grod,  Who  art  my  God,  and  the  God  of  my 
salvation :  and  my  tongue  shall  sing  of  Thy 
righteousness.  Then,  0  Lord,  Thouwilt  open  my 
lips,  and  my  mouth  shall  shew  forth  Thy  praise. 

For  Thou  hast  the  keys  of  David,  who  shut- 
test,  and  no  man  openeth ;  and  who  openest  and 
no  man  shutteth.  Accordingly,  open  Thou  my 
lips,  as  Thou  hast  opened  the  lips  of  babes  and 
sucklings,  out  of  whose  mouth  Thou  hast  per- 
fected Thy  praise. 

These,  of  a  truth  were  prophets  and  apostles, 
and  Thy  other  saints  beside,  who  praised  Thee 
out  of  a  simple  and  pure  heart  and  mouth :  but 
not  philosophers  and  orators  who  said — We  will 
magnify  our  own  tongues,  our  lips  are  our  own, 
who  is  our  God  ?      They  opened  their  own  lips : 


64  SAVONAKOLA. 

Thou  didst  not  open  them.  Verily,  out  of  their 
mouth  Thou  hast  not  perfected  praise. 

Thy  babes,  0  Lord,  praise  Thee  and  despise 
themselves.  The  philosophers,  while  they  made 
a  shew  of  praising  Thee,  desired  to  magnify 
themselves.  Thy  sucklings  praise  Thy  glory ; 
they  knew  Thee  through  grace  which  is  heavenly. 
The  philosophers  knew  Thee  through  nature 
alone  ;  they  could  not  sound  Thy  praises  perfectly. 
Thy  saints  praised  Thee  in  heart  and  mouth  ;  and 
in  good  works.  The  philosophers  in  words  only, 
and  in  swelling  sophistry. 

Thy  servants  shewed  forth  Thy  praises  in  all 
the  earth.  The  philosophers  preached  to  but  a 
few  disciples.  Thy  friends,  by  Thy  praises, 
turned  countless  men  from  sin  to  virtue  and  true 
happiness.  The  philosophers  knew  not  either 
true  virtue  or  true  happiness.  Thy  beloved 
preached  Thy  inefEable  loving-kindness,  which 
Thou  didst  manifest  in  the  Son  of  Thy  love. 
The  philosophers  could  in  no  wise  comprehend 
this.  Therefore,  out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and 
sucklings  hast  Thou  perfected  Thy  praise. 

For  it  hath  ever  pleased  Thee  to  exalt  the 
humble,  and  to  abase  the  proud.  Since,  then. 
Thou  dost  always  resist  the  proud,  give  unto  me 
true  humility,  that  out  of  my  mouth  Thou  mayest 


MISERERE.  05 

perfect  Thy  praise.  Give  unto  me  the  heart  of 
a  little  child  ;  because,  except  I  be  converted  and 
become  as  a  little  child,  I  cannot  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven. 

Make  me  as  one  of  Thy  babes  and  sucklings, 
that  I  may  always  hang  upon  the  breast  of  Thy 
wisdom.  For  its  breasts  are  better  than  wine. 
And  better  is  wisdom  than  all  riches  beside.  And 
all  things  which  are  desirable  are  not  worthy  to 
be  compared  Avith  it.  For  it  is  an  inexhaustible 
treasure  unto  men  ;  and  they  who  use  it  are  made 
partakers  of  the  friendship  of  God. 

If  therefore  Thou  makest  me  a  little  child, 
vy  Thou  wilt  perfect  Thy  praise. in  my  mouth.  For 
then  Thou  wilt  oj^en  my  lips  ;  and  my  mouth 
shall  shew  forth  Thy  praise.  It  shall  shew  it 
forth,  indeed,  to  perfection,  after  the  manner 
Thou  hast  perfected  praise  out  of  the  mouths  of 
babes  and  sucklings. 


XVII. 

"'For  if  Thou  hadst  desired  a  sacrifice^  I  would 
have  given  it:  hut  Thou  ivilt  not  take  delight 
in  burnt  offerings!^ 

My  mouth,  0  Lord,  shall  shew  forth  Thy 
praise  :  for  I  know  that  this  is  most  acceptable 
unto  Thee.  For  Thou  sayest  by  the  prophet, 
The  sacrifice  of  praise  shall  honour  me  ;  to  him 
who  walketh  in  this  path  I  will  shew  my  salva- 
tion. I  will  therefore  offer  praise  to  Thee,  the 
praise  that  is,  of  babes  and  sucklings,  for  all  my 
sins. 

And  why  shall  I  offer  unto  Thee,  for  all  my 
sins,  praise  rather  than  sacrifice?  Because,, if 
Thou  hadst  desired  a  sacrifice,  I  would  have  given 
it :  but  Thou  wilt  not  take  delight  in  burnt  offer- 
ings. 

Canst  Thou  be  appeased  with  blood  of  goats  or 
of  calves  ?  Wilt  Thou  eat  bull's  flesh  ?  or  drink 
the  blood  of  goats  ?  or,  peradventure,  dost  Thou 
require  gold.  Who  art  the  possessor  of  heaven  and 
earth  ?  Posj;  Thou  not  desire  that  a  sinner 
should  be  converted  and  live  ? 

Notwithstanding,  I  will  chastise  my  flesh  in 


MISERERE.  67 

due  proportion,  that,  through  Thy  grace,  it  may 
be  subjected  unto  reason,  and  may  faithfully 
serve  it.  For  if,  in  this  thing,  I  should  exceed 
the  due  proportion,  it  would  be  accounted  to  me 
for  sin,  that  the  reason  (as  saith  Thine  Apostle) 
may  be  obedient  unto  the  truth. 

For  Thou  hast  said  by  the  prophet,  I  \Ndll  have 
mercy  and  not  sacrifice.  Therefore  my  mouth 
shall  shew  forth  Thy  praise  ;  for  this  oblation 
honoureth  Thee,  and  layeth  open  to  us  the  way  of 
Thy  salvation. 

My  heart  is  ready,  0  God  :  my  heart  is  ready  ; 
ready  through  Thy  grace  for  all  things  which  are 
pleasing  to  Thee  to  be  done.  This  one  thing 
have  I  found  most  acceptable  unto  Thee.  This  I 
offer  unto  Thee.  This  shall  ever  be  in  my  heart. 
This  my  lips  shall  sound  forth. 

For  if  Thou  hadst  desired  a  bodily  sacrifice,  I 
surely  would  have  given  it.  For  my  heart  is 
ready,  through  Thy  grace,  to  fulfil  Thy  will. 
But,  on  this  wise.  Thou  wilt  not  take  delight  in 
burnt  offerings.  For  Thou  didst  create  bodies  for 
spirits  ;  therefore  Thou  seekest  spiritual  things — 
not  corporeal.  For  Thou  sayost  in  a  cortain 
place,  My  son,  give  Me  thiiif  hoarl.  This  is  the 
sacrifice  which  pleaseth  Thee — that  a  heart  be 
offered  unto  Thee,  awakened  to  sorrow  for  sins, 


68  SAVOKAROLA. 

and  enkindled  with  love  for  heavenly  blessings. 
And  it  need  be  repeated  no  more  that  Thou  wilt 
take  delight  in  this  kind  of  sacrifice. 


XVIII. 

*^The  sacrifice  of  God  is  a  troubled  spirit;  a  con- 
trite and  humble  heart,  0  God,  Thou  wilt  not 
despise!* 

Verily,  a  troubled  spirit,  not  a  troubled  flesh, 
pleaseth  Thee.  For  the  flesh  is  troubled  because 
it  hateth  earthly  pains,  which  it  desireth  not  to 
have,  or  truly,  which  it  feels  within  itself.  But 
the  spirit  is  made  sad  for  the  fault  within,  which 
is  contrary  to  God,  Whom  it  loves.  It  grieves  to 
have  offended  its  Creator  and  Redeemer ;  to  have 
despised  His  blood  so  efficacious  ;  to  have  held  the 
good  Father  in  contempt. 

This  then — a  troubled  spirit — is  a  sacrifice  to 
Thee  of  a  most  sweet-smelling  savour  ;  for  it  is 
composed  of  very  bitter  aromatics,  that  is,  of  the 
memory  of  sins.  For  when  its  sins  are  drawn  to- 
gether in  the  mortar  of  the  heart ;  and  are 
crushed  with  the  pestle  of  compunction,  and  re- 
duced to  powder  ;  and  are  moistened  with  water 
of  tears  ;  then  it  becometh  an  ointment  and  a 
sacrifice  most  acceptable  to  Thee  ;  the  which  ob- 
lation Thou  wilt  in  no  wise  despise. 

Who,  therefore,  breaketh  and  bruiseth  his  own 


70  SAVONAROLA. 

stony  heart,  made  of  the  adamantine  stones  of 
sin,  whence  an  unguent  may  be  compounded 
with  the  abundance  of  tears  ;  and  humbly  offer- 
eth  unto  Thee  this  kind  of  sacrifice,  despairing 
not  at  all  for  the  multitude  or  the  gravity  of  his 
sins,  will  by  no  means  be  despised  by  Thee  :  be- 
cause a  contrite  and  humbled  heart,  0  God,  Thou 
wilt  not  despise. 

Mary  Magdalene,  who  was  a  sinner  in  the  city, 
composed  such  an  ointment.  She  placed  it  in  the 
alabaster  box  of  her  heart.  She  feared  not  to 
enter  the  house  of  the  Pharisee.  Moreover,  she 
cast  herself  down  at  Thy  feet.  She  blushed  not 
to  weep  in  the  midst  of  the  banquet.  Oppressed 
with  sorrow,  she  spoke  not  a  word  ;  but  her  heart 
was  melted  in  tears,  with  which  she  washed  Thy 
feet.  With  her  hairs  she  wiped  them.  She  an- 
ointed them  with  ointment,  and  ceased  not  to 
kiss  them. 

Who  ever  heard  of  such  a  thing  ?  Or  who  hath 
seen  anything  like  this  ?  Acceptable,  therefore, 
unto  Thee  was  this  her  sacrifice  ;  and,  indeed,  so 
pleasing,  that  Thou  didst  prefer  her  to  the 
Pharisee,  who  appeared  just  unto  himself.  For, 
by  Thy  words.  Thou  impliedst  that  there  was  as 
wide  a  difference  between  the  justification  of  Mary 
and  the  righteousness  of  the  Pharisee  as  was  the 


MISERERE.  71 

difference  between  washing  the  feet  with  water 
and  bathing  them  with  tears  ;  kissing  the  face 
once,  and  kissing  the  feet  unceasingly  ;  anoint- 
ing the  head  with  oil,  and  anointing  the  feet  with 
very  precious  ointment.  Yea,  rather,  that  Mary 
very  far  surpassed  the  Pharisee,  because  he  him- 
self had  given  Thee  neither  water,  nor  kiss,  nor  oil. 

Oh,  great  virtue  of  Thine,  Lord  !  Oh,  great 
power  of  Thine  !  which  manifesteth  itself  in  spar- 
ing and  pitying  ! 

Behold,  therefore ;  because  a  contrite  and 
humbled  heart,  0  God,  thou  wilt  not  despise,  on 
this  account  I  am  eager  to  make  to  Thee  an  offer- 
ing of  this  kind.  Neither  is  it  needful  for  me  to 
plead  this  with  words.  For  Thou  art  God,  Who 
searchest  the  reins  and  hearts.  Then  also  receive 
this  my  sacrifice. 

And  if  perad venture  it  is  imperfect,  do  Thou, 
Who  alone  canst,  make  it  perfect :  that  it  may 
become  a  burnt  sacrifice,  as  it  were  wholly  aglow 
with  the  fire  of  Thy  boundless  love  :  that  it  may 
be  acceptable  to  Thee  ;  or  at  the  least,  that  Thou 
mayest  not  despise  it. 

For  if  Thou  wilt  not  despise  it,  I  know  that  I 
shall  find  favour  in  Thy  sight.  And  after  this, 
none  of  Thy  saints,  whether  in  heaven  or  in  earth, 
will  despise  me. 


XIX. 

^'  Do  favourably^  0  Lord,  in  Thy  good  pleasure, 
unto  Zion  :  that  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  may 
he  builded/' 

For  because  it  is  written,  With  the  holy  thou 
shalt  be  holy  ;  and  with  an  innocent  man  thou 
shalt  be  innocent ;  and  with  the  elect,  thou  shalt 
be  elected  ;  and  with  the  perverse,  thou  shalt  be 
perverted.  I  earnestly  desire  that  all  men  should 
be  saved,  and  comFTolh'e knowledge  of  the  truth. 
For  this  is  both  needful  unto  them,  and  expedient 
unto  me.  For,  through  their  prayers,  their  mer- 
its, and  their  examples,  I  should  arise  again,  and 
be  provoked  daily  to  better  things. 

I  beseech  Thee,  therefore,  0  Lord,  as  a  sinner. 
Do  favourably  in  Thy  good  pleasure  unto  Zion  ; 
that  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  may  be  builded.  For 
I  know  Thy  Church.  For  Zion  is  interpreted 
watch  tower  ;  because  Thy  Church,  by  the  grace  of 
the  Holy  Grhost,  gazeth  upon  the  glory  of  God,  at 
the  entrance  of  this  road.  As  the  Apostle  accord- 
ingly said.  We,  with  open  face  beholding  the 
glory  of   the  Lord,  are  changed   into   the   same 


MISERERE.  73 

image,  from  glory  to  glory,  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord. 

0  Lord  God,  how  small  is  Thy  Church  to-day  ! 
Already  the  whole  world  perisheth.  For  a  great 
many  more  are  the  infidels  than  the  Christians. 

Moreover,  among  the  Christians,  where  are 
they,  who  having  forsaken  worldly  aims,  look  for 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  ?  Surely  Thou  shalt  find 
few,  in  comparison  with  those  who  savour  of 
earthly  things  ;  whose  god  is  their  belly,  and 
whose  glory  is  in  their  shame. 

Do  favourably,  0  Lord,  in  Thy  good  pleasure 
unto  Zion  ;  that  she  may  be  increased  in  worthi- 
ness and  in  number. 

Look  down  from  heaven  and  do  favourably, 
according  as  Thou  art  wont ;  that  Thou  mayest 
send  forth  upon  us  from  above  the  fire  of  Thj 
love,  to  consume  all  our  sins.  Act,  0  Lord,  in 
Thy  good  pleasure  ;  that  Thou  mayest  not  deal 
with  us  according  to  our  sins,  neither  reward  us 
according  to  our  iniquities.  But  deal  Thou  with 
us  according  to  Thy  great  mercy. 

Thou,  Lord,  art  our  Father,  and  our  Redeemer  ; 
Thou  art  our  Peace  and  our  Joy  ;  Thou  art  our 
Hope  and  our  eternal  Safety.  All  creatures  ex- 
pect good  from  Thee.  When  Thou  givest  to 
them,  they    gather.     When    Thon    opeuest   Thy 


74  SAVONAROLA. 

hand,  all  things  are  filled  with  goodness.  When 
Thou  turnest  away  Thy  face,  they  are  troubled. 
Thou  takest  away  their  breath,  and  they  die  and 
return  unto  their  dust.  Thou  sendest  forth  Thy 
Spirit,  and  they  are  created  :  and  Thou  shalt  re- 
new the  face  of  the  earth. 

I  beseech  Thee,  0  Lord,  what  utility  is  there 
in  the  condemnation  of  so  many  thousands  of 
men  ?  Hell  is  filled  up.  The  Church  is  daily  de- 
pleted. Arise  !  Wherefore  sleepest  Thou,  0  Lord  ? 
Arise  !  and  cast  not  away  at  the  last.  Do  favour- 
ably in  Thy  good  pleasure  unto  Zion,  That  The 
Walls  Of  Jerusalem  May  Be  Builded. 

What  is  Jerusalem,  which  is  interpreted 
Vision  of  Peace,  except  the  Holy  City  of  the 
Blessed,  which  is  our  Mother  ?  Her  walls  fell 
when  Lucifer  with  his  angels  fell ;  in  place  of 
whom  just  men  are  being  received.  Therefore,  0 
Lord,  do  favourably  unto  Zion,  and  quickly  make 
up  the  number  of  the  elect ;  and  the  walls  of 
Jerusalem  shall  be  built  and  perfected  out  of  new 
stones,  which  shall  ever  give  Thee  praise,  and  en- 
dure for  ever. 


XX. 

"  Then  shall  Thou  accept  the  sacrifice  of  righteous- 
ness, the  oblations^  and  the  burnt  offerings  : 
then  shall  they  offer  young  bullocks  upon  Thine 
altar/' 

Then,  when  Thou  hast  done  favourably  in  Thy 
good  pleasure  unto  Zion,  shalt  Thou  accept  the 
sacrifice  of  righteousness.  Thou  shalt  accept  it, 
I  say,  because  Thou  shalt  consume  it  with  the  fire 
of  Thy  love.  For  thus  didst  Thou  accept  the 
sacrifice  of  Moses,  and  the  sacrifice  of  Elias.  For 
thus  Thou  acceptest  the  sacrifices  of  righteous- 
ness, when  Thou  bindest  with  Thy  grace  the 
souls  which  are  content  to  live  justly. 

What  availeth  it  to  offer  Thee  sacrifices,  when 
Thou  acceptest  them  not  ? 

0  Lord,  how  many  sacrifices  we  daily  offer 
Thee,  which  are  not  pleasing  unto  Thee,  but 
rather  abominable  !  For  we  offer  Thee  sacrifices, 
not  of  righteousness,  but  of  our  own  formalism. 
Hence,  they  are  not  acceptable  unto  Thee. 

Where  now  is  the  glory  of  the  Apostles  ? 
Where  the  constancy  of  the  Martyrs  ?     Where 


76  SAVONAROLA.  r^ 

the  fruits  of  the  Preachers  ?  Where  the  holy 
simplicity  of  the  Monks  ?  Where  the  virtues 
and  good  works  of  the  first  Christians  ? 

For  then  Thou  acceptedst  their  sacrifices 
when  Thou  adornedst  them  with  Thy  grace  and 
virtues.  If,  likewise,  Thou  shouldest  do  favour- 
ably unto  Zion  in  Thy  good  pleasure ;  then  Thou 
shalt  accept  the  sacrifice  of  righteousness  ;  be- 
cause the  people  will  begin  to  live  rightly  :  and 
to  (jbserve  Thy  commandments  ;  and  to  do  justly  ; 
and  Thy  benediction  will  be  upon  them. 

Then  the  oblations  of  the  priests  and  of  the 
clergy  shall  be  acceptable  unto  Thee  ;  because, 
worldly  things  forsaken,  they  shall  make  them- 
selves ready  for  the  better  life  ;  and  the  unction 
of  Thy  benediction  will  be  upon  their  heads. 

Then  shall  be  pleasing  unto  Thee  the  burnt 
offerings  of  the  religious,  who,  having  forsaken 
the  body,  and  thrown  off  lukewarmness,  shall  be 
perfected  in  every  part  with  the  fire  of  divine  love. 

Then  Bishops  and  Preachers  shall  offer  young 
bullocks  upon  Thine  altar  ;  because,  being  per- 
fected in  all  virtue,  and  filled  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  they  shall  not  hesitate  to  offer  their  own 
souls  for  the  sake  of  their  flocks. 

For  what  is  Thine  Altar  but  Thy  Cross,  0 
Good  Jesus,  upon  which  Thou  hast  been  offered  ? 


MISERERE.  77 

What  does  the  sportive  young  bullock  signify, 
except  our  flesh  ? 

Therefore,  then,  shall  they  offer  young  bul- 
locks upon  Thine  altar,  when  they  offer  their 
bodies  upon  the  Cross,  that  is,  to  torture  and  to 
death  for  Thy  Name's  sake.  Then  shall  the 
Church  flourish.  Then  shall  she  enlarge  her 
borders.  Then  Thy  praise  shall  resound  from 
the  ends  of  the  earth.  Then  joy  and  gladness 
shall  possess  the  whole  world.  Then  shall  the 
saints  in  glory  exult :  they  shall  rejoice  in  their 
beds,  beholding  us  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

Make,  I  beseech  Thee,  0  Lord,  for  me  a  pres- 
ent Now  of  that  Then :  that  Thou  mayest  have 
pity  on  me  according  to  Thy  great  mercy  ;  that 
Thou  mayest  support  me  in  the  sacrifice  of  right- 
eousness ;  in  the  oblation  of  holiness  ;  in  the 
burnt  offering  of  a  religious  life  ;  and  in  the 
blood-offering  of  Thy  Cross,  through  which  I  may 
be  worthy  to  pass  over  from  this  vale  of  misery, 
unto  that  glory,  which  Thou  hast  prepared  for 
them  that  love  Thee. 

Thanks  be  to  God.     Amen. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

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ON  ILL 


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LD21A-50.n.2,'71  Um^Tw  of'CaJ^rma 

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